LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SAINT CASIMIR'S

HYMN
TO THE

BLESSED VIRGIN,
From the

By rev. GEO.

Latin.

WATSON.

A.

1,
Chas. B.

Woodward &

911

Co., PRiNTEfe%;-

915 North Sixth Street,

ST. LOUIS,

MO.

Entered according

Rev.
In the

ofifice

to

Act of Congress,

GEORGE

A.

in the

year 1881, by

WATSON,

of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

The Library
OF Congress

WASHINGTON

TO
JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH,

THREE

MY DEDICATION, EYER
BE.

PREFACE.
Sacred song

the language, in which the soul, elevated

is

above the worry of a care-stricken world, speaks

and holds, as

were, secret intercourse with

it

Creator,

to its

Him, and

gives free

vent to her anxious longing after a more permanent, blissful

abode, enlivened by the ever recurring and exultant outpourings

From

of the extatic inhabitants of the Heavenly Sion.

quent mention of song in the Holy Scripture,

that

it is

we

nicely adapted to supply a spiritual want,

by the human

soul,

during

The Jewish people seemed

its

to

the fre-

feel conscious,

experienced

sojourn in this valley of tears.

have been constantly reminded of

the assistance, to be derived from this harmonious adjunct to the

weakness of the human mind.

Cherubim and the Seraphim

ty

" It speaks of the

Song of

of the

Song of the
and twen-

the four

Ancients; of the Song of the four living creatures of Ezechiel;

Song of the blessed souls. And when the Son of God,

made man for us, came upon the earth, then was the Song of
Heaven made audible to mortal ears, and the Angels sang, and
of the

the

Shepherds

earth to

men

listened,

of

'

Glory

good will.'

"(a)

to God on high, and peace on

The Canticle of Canticles, of the

wisest of men, but too plainly indicates to us, the high esteem in

which we should hold this heaven-inspired, and heaven-descended

favor.
Sacred Song then, is emphatically a gift from God, aptly
suited to raise our

minds

to a lively foretaste of the beauty,

and

the goodness of Almighty God.

Bidding farewell
attention to

to disquisition,

the beautiful

Hymn

of

let
St.

us

now

rather turn our

Casimir to the Blessed

Virgin, a Translation of which follows.

This, better than words, will explain what

Song.

The

Translator has endeavored to

lation, the Author's leading ideas.

is

meant by Sacred

embody

in his

Trans-

In addition to these, the de-

mands of a poetic translation, necessitated the introduction of

quite a number of secondaiy ideas, whose presence the intelli(a)

Bishop Elder.

gent Reader will not regard, as marring the beauty of the Original.

From

the very nature of the subject, a repitition of woi'ds

and ideas does occasionally occur The punctuation,

appear

but

faulty,

its

The

ear, will easily perceive.

couplets, into
in Choirs,

two equal

first

word

cate the required change.

Where

render the use of this

this

odd

verse, will indi-

here, I claim the privilege of

my young

my

Garesche, Esq.,

who has rendered me

indebtedness to

friend,

In the words of the concluding stanza, Farewell.

1st, i88i.

Wm.

valuable service in the

preparation of the Preface.

Church of the Holy Natiie of Jesus,

Hymn

arrangement was found

in italics, of the

And

acknowledging

October

may

division of the even verses of the

parts, will

extremely easy.

impracticable, the

at times,

correct application, the choral, or poetic,

SAINT CASIMIR,
Saint Casimir, son of Casimir III,

King of Poland, and

Elizabeth of Austria, was born at Cracow, October

3,

1458.

He

was elected King of Hungary, but excluded from the Succession.

Having renounced

the vanities of the world, he devoted

himself wholly to works of piety, and in these, he spent the re-

maining years of his

He was

especially

Mother of God.

Omni

begins:
at V'ilna,

life.

March

distinguished for his devotion to the

In her honor, he composed a

1484.

4,

He was

His tomb was re-embellished

ments were found

Omni
lars,

die, resting

To Mary,

Mariae.

die, die

entire, his

in

He died

1604, at which time, his gar-

body

March

daily say.

Canonized by Leo X, in 1521.

incorrupt,

under his right temple.

see the Bollandists,

Hymn, which

and the Hymn,

For further particu-

4.

PRAYER.
Oh God

Who

in the midst of royal delights

and the

allurements of the world, hast strengthened Saint Casimir with

the virtue of constancy,

through his intercession,

after

we beseech Thee,

may

that the

Faithful,

despise worldly desires, and aspire

Heavenly rewards.

Through Jesus

Christ, our Lord,

who

with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

liveth

Amen.

and reigneth

SAINT CASIMIR'S

HYMN

TO THE

BLESSED VIRGIN.
To Mary, give thy daily praise,
To her, my soul, thy thoughts upraise.
Her holy feasts, her actions kind.
Be ever present, to thy mind.
Admire her Queen-like, gracious mien,
Its living source,

A
A

the soul unseen.

Virgin Mother's, matchless fame,

Mother now,

Devoutly,

in

in

joy proclaim.

her service move.

Escape from crime's, detested groove.

Avoid sin's tempest driven shore,
Its

loathsome wrecks,

for

evermore.

 8
Whate'er the mighty Lord hath reaped,
Hath us upon, most bounteous heaped.
T^/^^V generous Queen, of heav'nly grace.

Has

favored, ev'ry

human

race.

Relate a Virgin Mother's deeds,

As gently

she, to triumph speeds,

(a)

cur-sed and afflicted race,

Hast Thou

restored, to honor's place.

Give to this lovely, ceaseless Queen,

Exalted praise, its brightest sheen (b)
Announce an ever generous mind,

And

gifts profuse, to

human

kind.

Her glory, in an endless round,

The body's aids, her praise resound.
The senses subject, conscious grow.
(c)

Their duty do, their service show.

(a)
(b)
(c)

In

manner meek, mighty

in deed.

Exalted praise's, brightest theme.

The

senses.

-9

Who

can of fluent, flaming word,

Her worth

Whose

surpass, 'twere so absurd?

of her obtain?

God's Virgin Mother,

With Her they hope,

all

'tis

virtue's needs,
I

prize,

may

renown.

a bright, celestial crown.

pious minds,

Rare
That

do

their souls

not, indeed, to like

Nor such

To

active brain.

fertile, subtile,

Can worthy hymns,

But

(a)

very

clear.

do so appear,

and mine, her praise intend,

And

in

Due
The

praise on

her honor, these

Mary,

to

may

blend.

bestow,

wisest minds, can never know,

Who

keeps her name, and

Most senseless

(a)

Eloquence.

it

foregoes,

he, his folly shows.

rise.

lO-

Whose

holy Hfe, to

Displayed

Who

th'

Upon

its

wisdom bound,

power,

its

love profound,

(a)

unbeliever's shallow craft,

its flare,

did sure engraft,

(b)

Flowers have their proper, varied speech,

Thy actions' chimes, they cannot reach.
Her worthy words, their equal deeds.

Are sweetest

virtue's, surest seeds.

Eve's fatal crime, had Heaven's approach,

Against us barred, at sin's encroach, (c)
Submissive, faithful Mary's will,

Did

souls induce, to enter

still.

vengeful, and a bitter blow.

Did haughty Eve, on man bestow.

But Mary gracious, leads the way.
To happy Heav'n's, eternal stay.

(a)
(b)
(c)

Displayed the power, of love profound.

Upon

destruction, did engraft.

Encroachment.

II

In Mary's, ardent love engage,

From youth

her praise, advancing age.

Entreat her, blameless venerate,

From

early dawn, to evening late.

Her Son's

may She commend,

may She extend.

behest,

helping hand,

At life's eventful, happy close.

Our souls receive, to Heaven's

The

repose.

brightest glory of thy race.

Elected know, to highest grace.

Away, far down, mayst sweetly vieiv,

The greatest, and the wisest few.

Their voices,

in

thy service raise,

Attentive view, thy servants' praise.

The guilty cleanse, and nobly free,

Of Heav'nly gifts, they worthy be.

12-

Great Jesse's rod, (a) and weary mind's

Secure retreat, when passion blinds.
Fair wisdom's bright, and honored road,
The mighty Lord's, divine abode.

In thy pursuits, we goodness view,

And grace's fountain, dost renew.

God's pleasing temple, ever found,

In justice all, thy worth abound.

Hail Virgin

To

now

the gates unbar,

hapless souls, from

God

afar.

Against Thee, vainly was essayed,

The serpent's fraud, it long delayed,

King David's, noble daughter

(b)

fair,

Of Heav'nly King, art Thou, the heir.

From whom creation, steady flows.
Whose hand preserves, it wisely knows.

(a)
(b)

In reference to her royal and sacerdotal descent

serpent's venom, long delayed.

The

13

Untainted, living virtue's stem,

A charming rose, a dazzling gem.

Who lead'st a Virgin choir elate,
To

endless joys, a happy state.

Do

th'

power bestow.
That worthy words, and actions flow.
Unceasing praises, may produce.

Thy

expeditious,

merits' crown, their holy use.

May mem'ry,
Thy frequent
Forget

art afford,

praise, its burden's load.

th' ignoble,

And now
The
Too
Thy

all its

to view,

worthless dead.

thy glory led.

death-like silence, of

my

lips,

plainly shows, their guilty slips.

favors, silent

Their

may

sinful use, ma}^

not be.

never see.

 14
Upraise sweet commendation's voice,
A Virgin's praise, in her rejoice.

And

those, in vice's ev'ry turn,

Dear freedom's chance, they may not spurn.

Always most pure, and

fruitful

Virgin Thou, a mighty host.

Virgin, yet a mother greets.

So

flow'ring palm,

Be

ever, consolation's pow'r,

Thy

its fruit

charms,

matchless

completes,

Without the

a swift

stain of

Thy

praises'

(b)

beauty's

grief,

relief.

any

Fair beauty's boast, art

Pure, joyful,

(a)

[flow'r.

their

x^nd from depressing, wearing

Its fruit afford,

most,

sin.

Thou

within.

may we ever be.

end, may never see.

(a)

Thy

[bj

Sinless, the

matchless beauty, and its flower.

Palm bears flowers and fruits, so did Mary,

her divine son.

15-

Untasted joys, unwonted they,

Through Mother Thee, their worth display.
Faith's flaming, shining, guiding star,

To

heav'nly homes,

To Thee,

it

points afar,

[a]

a bhssful tribute flows,

grateful world,

Forgetful, of

its

its

duty shows.

former days,

Bereft of truth's, consoling rays.

The

rich, in desolation

Review
As,

in

cast,

in grief, their treasures past.

thy very words, contained.

The needy

have, their

all

regained.

The wand'ring, crooked ways perverse.

Of manners vile, their deadly curse.
Repelled by thy protecting hand.

Hast forced

[a]

To

to seek, another land.

heav'nly kingdoms, points afar.

 16
Reduce the body's vices more.
The weary soul, to God restore.
To spurn the world, allurements vain,
Hast taught, its follies to restrain, t^i

In virtue's state,

The
The

and God besought.

mind's pursuit, hast wisely taught.

body's notions, to restrain,

heav'nly crown, to thus obtain.

Creator, and

Who

Redeemer

great.

led us back, to virtue's state.

In chaste enclosure, hast

Now

Him

sorrow's darts, cease

we

borne,
to

mourn,

Hast born a Son, we truly state,

A Mother Thou, Immaculate.
Creator, Sovereign, present King,

Of mighty

[a]

To

Lords, and ev'ry thing.

hate and spurn the world's allurements vain.

Hast taught, and all the follies they contain.

Hast wrecked the wary fiend's intent,

Unconquered Thou, thy might unspent,
Salvation

(a)

hope, rehnquished sore,

Shines back by pardon, as before.

Of Him,

the Mother, sweetly sing,

blessed Lord, unconqu'r'd King.

Born uncreated, and of Thee,

The Saviour
Of

of,

our race

is

(b)

he.

(c)

the despairing, soul oppressed.

Repairer Thou, consoler best.

Protect from all affliction sore,

The wicked

May

can, escape no more,

not destruction's fearful doom,

In fire-fed pool,

(^i)

my

soul consume.

heav'nly crown, for

Its rarest virtues,

may

me
I

obtain,

gain.

(a)
(b)
[c]

And Thou, with conqu'ring might unspent, Hast, etc.

And truly, also born of Thee.
By Grace, the Savior of our race, is he. This, with

[d]

preceeding verse, indicates a threefold Birth. See Butler's

Saints' Lives, Dec. 25th.
Krom which the wicked, can escape no more.

the


Give

18

freely to th' entreating mind,

and them combined.

Celestial gifts,

Which

cure

t^i

its

ev'ry, deadly sore,

Its just desires, to

it

restore.

may I ever be,

son, may never see.

Chaste, modest,
Dissension's

Attractive, sober, pious, kind,

And
Most

others' rights,

may

cautious mind.

aptly taught, supremely well.

In wisdom's race,

may

praise compel.

On

guard against the cunning foe.

Right well adorned, with virtue's glow,

In

all, still

seeing naught defiled.

Unchanging, grave, and ever mild.

Mature and stainless, void of guile,
Forbearing, meek, for all a smile.

[a]

By way

of Intercession.

19-

Th' unvarnished truth to say and find,

A guarded heart, a thoughtful mind,
No evil wishing, serving God,
In holy works, without the prod.

Be Thou

The
Fix

the tutrix, aider near,

christian's help,

we

banish fear.

not our thoughts, on things below,

Through

grace's channels, let

them

flow.

Above all praises, worthy far.

Of shoreless sea, the saving Star.
Dost

The

in fair

beauty, far outrun.

lightsome orb, and shining sun.

and give the meek,

Thy prayer intense, them quickly seek.

Sustain, relieve,

What

darkens, or depraves the mind,

Correct, remove,

in fetters

bind.

20-

happy Virgin's joy recount,

From

devil's frauds,

we

safely mount.

and her godlike Son,

Restored the Crown, the devil won.
Virgin,

Inviolate,

and

fruitful

made.

By heav'nly off-spring, art repaid.

With modest virtue's, lilly crown,
Enriched and

raised, to great

For what Thou

And

Thou

wast.

renown.

dost remain,

generating, know'st no stain.

Dost meekly nurse, and handle him.

From whom thy body, soul and limb.

Oh
And
!

That

deign

me

gracious, to

by thy Son,
I

my

destruction,

From danger

dire,

commend.

soul defend.

may

my

escape,

course

may

shape.

21

That

be meek, contention part,

Desires most wicked, from the heart.

Against

And

sin,

give protection sure,

may

virtue's prize,

secure.

In slavish fetters, be not bound,

In worldly

The
It

be never found.
folly, that embark,

lust,

souls in

senseless makes, and doubly dark.

Impede

Of

elation's

deadly course,

evils great, the fatal source.

Devouring anger's wicked flow,

Not madly blaze, with fury glow,

(a)

May

My

God's protecting, saving grace,

heart preserve, in virtue's race.

Let not the ancient, wicked foe.

Sow noxious seeds, of sin and woe.

(a)

Shall not, with blazing fury, glow.

22-

Assistance thine, relief afford,

Thy

Do

and

feasts

actions,

may we

hoard.

not forget thy servants dear,

In Heav'n, with Thee,

may

all

appear.

Raise meekly now, your gentle voice,

In

God and Mary,

(a)

e'er rejoice.

Let not the sordid things of earth,

Withdraw you, from a heav'nly birth.

How

On them
In

and

few,

far

the soul,

between, our joys,

its

weak endeavors,

To

We

reach a

bliss,

strength employs.

sadly vain.

they can't contain.

nobly pass, from passion's flow.

When

virtue does, her force bestow.

To Mary, humbly have

From Her

(a)

to us,

Added.

is

recourse.

virtue's source.

ERRATA.
On
"Speaks

page

4,

second

line, for

"Speaks

to

its

Creator," read

to her Creator."

On page
borne a son."

16,

last verse,

for

"Hast born a son," read "Hast

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